Ongoing Community Dialogues on Inclusion

Feb. 27, 2017

Dear USD Campus Community,

Last week was a challenging week for diversity, inclusion, and social justice in our nation, in our community, and on our campus.

New executive orders and sharpened tenor on immigration enforcement vastly expand the definition of “criminal” immigrants targeted for deportations while accelerating enforcement actions. Members of the community report immigration enforcement actions occurring in our neighborhood of Linda Vista, including stopping vehicles. Together, these actions represent a grave challenge to cultivating the dignity of immigrants and refugees regardless of status or identity in our community – and through the practice of solidarity, they stand as challenges to all of our dignity. As a Catholic community, we remain committed to “welcoming the stranger” and standing with immigrants and refugees.

Actions against the American Indian protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, the murder of Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Kansas, the desecration of Jewish cemeteries in St. Louis and Philadelphia and lifting of protections for transgender K-12 students through the Department of Education add to concerns and anxieties for many in our community committed to compassion and justice.

Furthermore, despite student-led, inclusive expressions of love and solidarity on our campus over the past two weeks, including the “Where is the Love?” march and vigil, we find swastikas scrawled in bathrooms – symbols of terror and expressions of the absence of love, the absence of dignity, the absence of compassion, and the absence of justice. The University Senate at USD met on the day of the communication about this deplorable incident and unanimously passed the following resolution:

"The University Senate strongly condemns the recent act of anti-Semitism and hate involving swastikas. We pledge to renew our efforts to foster an atmosphere of inclusion and respect towards individuals of all faiths and origins and urge all other members of the campus community to join us."

Let us recommit every day to advancing love, dignity, compassion, and justice in our lives and in our communities.

There are opportunities to engage in conversations about the impact of the recent acts of intolerance on campus and dialogue about the broader national climate. All are invited to attend the dialogue events this week to discuss the needs of our community and what individual and collective action to which we can commit.

Counseling Center Emergency ServicesThe counselor-on call is available to consult about after-hours psychological emergencies at all times. The counselor-on call can be reached by calling Public Safety (x2222) on any campus telephone, otherwise call 619-260-2222).